SOCCEROO has secured its place in the top flight of the United Football League after clinching the Division 2 title on Sunday with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Forza at the Emperador Stadium.
Hyeon Seung Lee registered a hat-trick, while Won Jae Cha and Jeong Woo Lee added a goal apiece for the Korean-reinforced squad, which went through anxious moments before sealing the victory and ultimately the championship.
The race for the Division 2 championship was an altogether different story since Socceroo clinched with four games remaining in its season.
After going unbeaten in its first 13 games of the season, Socceroo has compiled 39 points, 15 points ahead of closest pursuers Union Internacional Manila and Agila.
For a while on Sunday, though, it seemed Socceroo will need to wait a little longer before securing the title.
After establishing a 5-1 lead early in the second half, Socceroo let Forza mount a furious comeback that saw the fourth-running squad score the game’s last three goals - two from Nikko Paolo Villa and one from Jun Mark Saraga.
The team that finishes second in Division 2 also has a chance to get promoted as it will battle the ninth-ranked Division 1 squad in a two-game series.
Military squads Philippine Army and Air Force are in the Division 1 cellar, while eighth-ranked Nomads is not out of the woods yet.
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